Salem, Oregon Public Records

Oregon voters can register online at https://sos.oregon.gov/voting/pages/registration.aspx through the Secretary of State Elections Division website, though the registration deadline is strictly enforced at 21 days before any election. The state offers automatic voter registration through the DMV, requiring an Oregon driver's license or ID card number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. Same-day registration is not available. Municipal elections in the capital city follow a four-year cycle in November of even-numbered years. The next Salem municipal election is November 2026, when three city council positions (Wards 2, 4, and 6) will appear on the ballot. The Mayor is also elected citywide for four-year terms, with the next mayoral election in 2028. The city uses a ward-based system with eight council wards; voters elect one councilor from their ward and vote for the mayor citywide. Local ballot measures, including bond issues for schools or city infrastructure, also appear regularly. Because Oregon is a vote-by-mail state, traditional polling places don't exist. Instead, voters receive ballots approximately 18 days before Election Day and must return them by 8:00 PM on Election Day to one of the official ballot drop boxes scattered throughout the city and county, or via mail (postmarked by Election Day). The county elections office website provides a drop box locator map showing all official locations. Oregon makes extensive election records publicly available. Voter registration lists (excluding confidential addresses for protected voters) can be purchased from the Secretary of State. Campaign finance reports for state and local candidates are searchable at https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/gotoPublicTransactionSearch.do through ORESTAR (Oregon Elections Contributions and Expenditure Reporting System). Candidate filings and statements are available from the Marion County elections office, and detailed precinct-level results are published online after each election. In the November 2024 presidential election, Marion County recorded approximately 64% voter turnout with over 140,000 ballots cast out of approximately 220,000 registered voters, reflecting Oregon's strong vote-by-mail participation. For the November 3, 2026 general election, voters in the area will decide several major races: Oregon's gubernatorial race (Governor Tina Kotek's term expires in 2027, so the election is in 2026), one of Oregon's U.S. Senate seats (depending on the cycle—Oregon's Senate seats are Class 2 and Class 3, with 2026 being an election year for one seat if it aligns), all of Oregon's six U.S. House seats (Salem is in Congressional District 5 or 6 depending on redistricting), Oregon State Legislature seats (Senate District 10 and House Districts 19, 20, and 21 cover Salem), Marion County Commissioner positions, Marion County Sheriff, Marion County Clerk, Marion County Assessor, and various judicial positions. City council positions for Wards 2, 4, and 6 will also be decided. To request an absentee ballot in Oregon's vote-by-mail system, all registered voters automatically receive a ballot by mail; however, voters who need a replacement ballot, have moved, or want their ballot sent to a temporary address can request one by contacting the Marion County Elections Office by phone at (503) 588-5041 or through the online ballot request form on the Marion County elections website up until one week before Election Day.